Crunchy Chickpea Salad Food

CRISPY CHICKPEA SALAD

Steps:

• Roast the chickpeas: Drain, rinse and pat dry the chickpeas; let sit 30 minutes on a paper towel-lined plate to let them dry out. Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Dump the chickpeas onto a rimmed baking sheet. Toss with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast, tossing occasionally, until crisp and dry, about 50 minutes. Let cool.
• While the chickpeas cool, bake the croutons: Toss the pita pieces with the butter and a pinch of salt on another baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Let cool. (You can store the chickpeas and the croutons in separate containers at room temperature for up to 4 days.)
• Make the dressing: Mix the tahini, lemon juice and 3 to 4 tablespoons water in a bowl until creamy and pourable. Season with salt and pepper. (You can put the dressing in a cute jar and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. If it gets too thick to pour, mix in a little water before using.)
• Make the salad: Combine the spinach, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, radishes and mint in a large bowl. Add the feta, za'atar, dressing and chickpeas and gently toss. Top with the croutons.

CRUNCHY CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Drain the chickpeas in a colander and rinse well. Dry the chickpeas with a few whirls in a salad spinner. Remove the chickpeas from the salad spinner onto a paper towel-lined half-sheet pan. Top with another layer of paper towels and roll, pat to dry further.
• Remove the paper towels from the sheet pan and toss the chickpeas with the olive oil and salt. Bake for 30 minutes.
• Turn off the oven and leave the chickpeas to dry and become crispy, approximately 1 hour.
• Toss the still-warm chickpeas with the sumac and cayenne pepper. Cool completely before consuming or storing.

CRUNCHY CHICKPEA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook the bulghar wheat according to packet instructions. Allow to cool. Lightly toast the pine nuts in a non-stick pan over a low heat, until golden.
• Put all the salad ingredients into a bowl and toss together well. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Serve piled on to plates or into bowls with iceberg lettuce, radishes, red pepper and celery.